Jimmy Eat World - Clarity Live (2009)

Jimmy Eat World released their live album yesterday and many thanks to the boys of J.E.W. for reminding us why Tuesdays are the best days for music! Hot off the heels of their sold-out, 10-city, 10-year Clarity anniversary tour (the only show this year I absolutely regret missing, sigh) is the release of this album that features the live performance of their last tour stop at the Marquee Theatre in Tempe, Arizona. I love when bands show hometown love.

I wish more bands would take a cue from these guys and promise to play each track, in order, off their classic record. I would've seen them anyway, truth be told. After catching them a few times over the years at Roseland Ballroom (NYC) and even at a smaller but legendary venue like The Stone Pony (Asbury Park, NJ), these guys always put on a great show. Sometimes on the Bleed American tour former Promise Ring-ers would hit the stage to join in on "A Praise Chorus" much to the delight of emo-bred older fans, but they almost always have great opening acts to complement their set. They also respect their fans, both longtime and new, by playing a healthy mix of older and newer favorites. Even the really really emo shit like their first song, "Roller Queen," that I absolutely love and you'd think they wouldn't play, like, past 1999. If these aren't enough reasons to see them, they feature some of the most romantic mood lighting and backdrops ever. I'm talking stars, shiny lights, interplays of green/blue/purple hues, really great stuff for romantics like myself and lead singer Jim Adkins too, apparently. It's been a while, but I can recall always feeling happy, enchanted, and peaceful after one of their shows, almost like falling in love. If you're a guy, take your girlfriend to one of their shows and you will most likely get the good lovin' that evening when you get home. They will eat your world and music will never be the same to you ever again.

Track listing:
"Table For Glasses" (awesome)
"Lucky Denver Mint" (incredible)
"Your New Aesthetic" (good)
"Believe In What You Want" (good)
"A Sunday" (fucking love it)
"Crush" (good)
"12.23.95" (great)
"Ten" (sigh)
"Just Watch The Fireworks" (oh my god, so amazing)
"For Me This Is Heaven" (un..fucking..believable)
"Blister" (don't even get me started on this one's genius)
"Clarity" (ridiculously great, especially live)
"Goodbye Sky Harbor" (awesome)

Plus, they tacked on a pair of studio cuts ("What I Would Say To You Now" and "No Sensitivity") as a nice little bonus. The CD is available through the band's website. It's a nice little "just because," great-stocking-stuffer-yes-I-know-it's-not-Christmas-but-still, present for any true Jimmy Eat World fan.

Five "Getting Ready" Songs

No ranking necessary, just a few favorite tunes to crank while getting ready to go out with friends, picking out clothes to wear, glossin' and flossin,' gussying up for a date, driving around looking for a parking spot before you can actually paint the town red... basically, blast-worthy songs that will get you ready for anything-- going out, falling in love, getting trashed, whatever makes life interesting.

1) Jimmy Eat World - "A Praise Chorus"
I'm on my feet, I'm on the floor, I'm good to go
All I need is just to hear a song I know
I wanna always feel like part of this was mine
I wanna fall in love tonight

This song revs my engine, each and every time. An instant mood-lifter, it's brimming with positive energy and good feelings. Turn it on, turn it up and a great night is guaranteed before it has even begun to get started.

2) The Replacements - "Favorite Thing"
I'm such a junky for all things Replacements. Between this, "I Will Dare," and even "Bastards of Young," it's impossible not to get drunk off Paul Westerberg's energy. I love screaming along to the "You're my faaaaavorite thing... bar nothing!", or jumping around the room while getting ready, only to turn it on again in the car and listen to it a few times til I reach my destination. It'd make for a great live cover song, yet oddly I've yet to hear anyone jump on it. Ryan Adams & the Cardinals, I'm talking to you.

3) Ryan Adams - "So Alive"
I love Rock N Roll in its entirety, but this one actually makes me soar out of any kind of funk or bad mood I may have been in pre-song. I never understood the need for drugs, cuz music like this is free and, well, could essentially qualify as an upper. And ladies, it doesn't hurt that Ryan Adams is also kinda hot. Brooding, bed-head, looks like he hasn't showered in a week but has, sleepy-smile kinda hot. Mention the name Mandy Moore and I will snap. Again.

4) Jesus and Mary Chain - "Head On"
I'm forever reminded of Smiths/Morrissey night at Sway in NYC since the DJ's love playing it. Dancing around to 80s downer sounds like an oxy moron, but it somehow works. This one's all about sparks-- feeling them, giving them. And experiencing that electricity, since "second-hand living just won't do."

and the way I feel tonight, I could die and I wouldn't mind / and there's something going on inside / makes you wanna feel, makes you wanna try, makes you wanna blow the stars from the sky / and I can't stand up, I can't cool down, I can't get my head off the ground

Oh man. I definitely don't feel like that everyday, but I do everytime I hear this song. And that's good enough.

5) Bruce Springsteen - "Dancing In The Dark"
Classic. Look up 'feel-good' in the dictionary and there should be a YouTube link to this video. Is further explanation really necessary?

Mona's Fall Shuffle

Track 1: "Little Dawn" by Ted Leo + The Pharmacists
This one encapsulates all the reasons why Ted Leo is the man: it's upbeat, fun, rocks hard, and it's damn near impossible not to sing along and/or tap your knees when he sings. Keep writing music, and I will keep listening! :-)

Track 2: "You Said Something" by PJ Harvey
This song makes me wanna go to Nick Cave's apartment and plant a kiss on his lips, just to see what the fuss was about ("your boy's smile, 5 in the morning, looked into your eyes, and I was really in love..."). From rooftop parties in Brooklyn, to being hungover in Chinatown, to a few life-changing words she's "never forgotten" in Little Italy, the amazing Stories From The City, Stories From The Sea details PJ's love affair with Nick, as well as with NYC itself. And "You Said Something" serves best as a reminder that NYC may just be the best city to fall in love.

Track 3: "Kill" by Jimmy Eat World
Oh Jimmy, I love your emo ways. I once asked Jim Adkins outside his Stone Pony show in Asbury Park, NJ what song he meant during the line "I pick up, put down the phone / like your favorite Heatmiser song goes / it's just like being alone." He smiled and said "Half Right." So for all you wondering, there you have it.

Track 4: "A Man and A Woman" by U2
I couldn't tell ya what tracks are on How To Dismantle An Atomic Bomb, but this song has such a sexy groove to it. They don't put out Joshua Tree-style music anymore, but I'm open-minded enough to appreciate U2's entire catalog. They've secured enough musical genius to earn the right to a few relatively subpar albums since, so no need to hate.

Track 5: "Windmills" by Toad The Wet Sprocket
Gotta love 90's alternative rock... still. I've always felt these guys are underrated and wish this style of music was still mainstream 'cuz if so, I think they'd still be relevant. This isn't my favorite song of theirs, but it's mad relaxing and the lyrics/music are beautiful. I only hope Glen Phillips still makes music. If not for the masses, then at least for himself.

Afterthought: This came out less embarrassing than I feared!?